Spain & terrorism (catch all)

[Jedburgh]

The Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Monitor, 7 Jun 07:

Catalonia: Europe's New Center of Global Jihad

The strengthening of Islamist groups, combined with an increase in jihadi networks and activities in and around Barcelona, underscores Catalonia's status as a European center for al-Qaeda-associated terrorism operations. Statements by al-Qaeda leaders that emphasize Spain's unique "status" within the Global Salafi-Jihad, coupled with recently disclosed terrorism trends for Spain, reveal that the culture of global jihad has consolidated in Spain's northern autonomous region. Once seemingly disparate Salafi Islamist groups and neophyte militant Muslim grassroots networks have coalesced into radicalized Islamist collectives throughout Catalonia to pose a national threat to Spain, as well as to Western interests in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East....

[davidbfpo]

Barcelona reappears: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090203...20090203065615

IIRC there was another thread on this topic, but not readily found.

davidbfpo

[davidbfpo]

The Barcelona defendants have their day in court: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe...=Google+Reader

A Spanish court convicted 11 Islamic militants Monday of membership in a terrorist group, but acquitted them of a "specific" conspiracy to carry out an attack on Barcelona's metro subway system, as prosecutors alleged.....The three-judge panel at the National Court ruled on Monday that all 11 belonged to a terrorist group. Two of the 11 also were convicted of possession of explosives, but nine others were acquitted on that charge. The 11 face prison terms of eight to 14 years.

[davidbfpo]

To my surprise there appears not be a thread on the Madrid bombings (Atocha railway station), March 2004, so this snippet is dropped here:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe...=Google+Reader

The five men include three Moroccans, an Algerian and a Turk. Their sentences, on charges of collaborating or belonging to an Islamic terrorist group, range from five to nine years in prison, according to a copy of the court order viewed by CNN. The court acquitted four other defendants, all Moroccans, on similar charges. "During the years 2004 and 2005, the group provided cover and economic support and facilitated the flight from Spain for individuals who had roles" in the train bombings, the court said. The group was based in a Barcelona suburb...